Thursday, 31 May 2012

The 101st annual conference of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is taking place from 30th May to 15th June in Geneva, Switzerland, at the United Nations headquarters, Palais des Nations. Activists from a number of French unions, including CGT, CFDT, FSU, UNSA and Solidaire have called for a rally outside the UN headquarters in protest against the persecution of workers in Iran.

As in previous years, we will be taking part in this protest to highlight the call for the expulsion of the Islamic Republic regime from the ILO and for the release of jailed workers and political prisoners in Iran. We call on all to join us!

A delegation from the Islamic regime of Iran is attending the annual conference of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30th May to 15th June 2012. These people are not the representatives of Iranian workers or people, but of a regime which is a persistent and systematic abuser of workers’ and human rights. This regime jails and flogs workers for organising in unions, for attending May Day rallies and for protesting over pay and conditions. This regime is a horrific abuser of human rights: It executes children and stones women to death and has the highest record, in proportion to population, of executions in the world. Such a regime should not be in the ILO, but in international courts to face charges for its crimes against humanity. This regime should be expelled from the ILO and from all international bodies.

We request all the workers’ groups and all delegates appalled at the abuse of labour and human rights in Iran to walk out of any sessions at which the representatives of the Islamic regime of Iran may want to take the podium and speak. Their mere presence should prompt your immediate walkout.

Just as the regime of racial Apartheid faced international boycott and isolation, so the regime of gender Apartheid and gross labour and human rights violations should be boycotted, and expelled from all international bodies, and first and foremost from an organisation which bears the name of worker.

Protest the attendance of the Islamic regime of Iran at the ILO conference!